…Suriname authorities give conflicting report on status of repair work

By Wendella Davidson
THE anticipated return of the Guyana-Suriname ferry, MV Canawaima, to the Moleson Creek– South Drain (Nickerie) route on Dec 01, 2019, did not materialise as the vessel remains on the mudflat on the Suriname shore.

A source on the Guyana side with knowledge about the vessel’s operation, told the Guyana Chronicle that their Surinamese counterpart had earlier communicated that all the needed repairs on the vessel had been completed and only a trial-run had to be done prior to resumption. The repairs entailed the installation of a new engine and securing of the engine foot, among other works.

But to the dismay of a team of local engineers from the T&HD and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) that conducted a `spot visit’ to South Drain where the vessel is moored on the mudflat, it found that the report given was totally untrue, also that the ferry was “ far from ready “ to resume operations.

“I cannot understand how it was reported that the vessel was ready to be taken on a trial-run, when, among other things, the engineers found that the foot of the engine is not even bolted down. Also, they found no evidence of some other repairs being undertaken was done,” the source said, adding that it is the first time that repairs are being undertaken on the MV Canawaima without the involvement of the Guyanese engineers.
It is the opinion of the source, however, that because of the type of work to be effected on the engine, the vessel should be taken into a dockyard where it can be hoisted to allow for the proper aligning of the engine foot before it is secured.

Under the joint bilateral agreement, all cost incurred by the vessel would be jointly shared, but it was noted that while an audit is done by the Guyana side of its operations up to 2018, there is no documentation to show that such an inspection has ever been done at the Suriname end. The source said that whenever repairs are done on the vessel, a bill, which does not contain much details, is sent to the Guyana side so that they can make their payment.

“If we are talking of progress, everyone needs to be involved and all aspects must be consolidated; not one side doing an audit of their operations and the other having nothing to show for years,” the source added. Reports are that the MV Canawaima began encountering mechanical difficulties in 2018 and when the problem intensified, the service of a tug-boat was sought. However, on May 26, 2019, a decision was taken to suspend the service.

With no service in place for over three months, individuals and others wanting to conduct business from either side,were greatly inconvenienced, before a decision was eventually taken to have the T&HD-owned MB Sandaka fill the void by way of a charter agreement between the T&HD and management of the Canawaima. The operational costs for the use of the Sandaka will also be shared equally between Guyana and Suriname. It was during the period with no ferry operating the route that the importance of the ferry link between the two territories was realised. Meanwhile, the MV Sandaka will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, all national holidays.